Two Buck Chuck, which actually goes under the name Charles Shaw, can be found exclusively at Trader Joe’s stores (over 150 stores exist). It got the name Two Buck Chuck from it’s extraordinary price of only $1.99 (in California at least). However, it has become somewhat of a legend among wine consumers because it has repeatedly shot down much more expensive wines, some more than $15!

Needless to say, this is a true Cheap Eats value. Wine in any quantity is way too expensive for a lot of cheap eaters, but this wine is cheaper than some bottled water for chrissakes! There are five varieties to choose from: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. I’ve tried the Cabernet, Merlot and the Sauvignon and though I’m no wine expert they were all extremely pleasant to drink. I’ve also tried cooking up a beef stew using the Cabernet as a deglazer and it lent a really complex nice flavor to the sauce. The wine is so well known around my area that bringing Charles Shaw to a party (especially during the holidays) is certainly not looked down upon and in fact encouraged! After all, at less than two bucks a bottle, you can buy a whole case and even give it out as gifts.

How can they afford to sell Two Buck Chuck for two bucks? Well, it’s due to a number of factors according to their website:

There is a massive glut of wine grapes in California as a result of grape overplanting in the 1990’s.  This has resulted in excess grape inventories yielding wine for a dramatic reduction in costs.

The influx of everyday, valued priced wines from places like Chile, Australia and New Zealand also play a role, giving customers more wine options from which to choose.  Our capitalist system at work.

Trader Joe’s has a great relationship with our wine supplier. Great meaning that we buy as direct as we can. We’ve cut out as many middlemen as is legally possible. The supplier buys in huge volume (huge being an understatement at best), is one of the biggest vineyard owners in the world, has the capability to bottle large quantities and can deliver the wine very efficiently for us. So we’re able to pass along a great deal to our customers.

In any case, you probably want to try Charles Shaw wine out for yourself. You might have a bit o trouble doing that if you live somewhere that doesn’t have Trader Joe’s. I believe that you can also find the wine online, though it’s a bit more expensive. Also, prices may vary, so don’t expect to always get it for Two Bucks. I’ve heard the upper limit is around $4.00, which isn’t too bad. Just not absolute rock bottom cheap eats.

Cheap Eats Score: 9/10